Cheryl Orletsky the DogGuru
How long have you been doing what you do and how did you get to be the DogGuru?

Who are your clients exactly?
I work with clients, just like you, who are pet owners, or pet professionals, who really love dogs and love sharing their lives with pets, however have never been taught how to completely understand dog behaviour, care and health, and don’t know how to get the information and confidence they want and need. Perhaps you want to get started in the pet care industry, and you just don’t know where to get started, or you are wondering how to take it the next level, to be seen as a true ‘professional’ in the industry. That being said, I’ve worked with people who are in or wish to be in every area of the pet industry.- Dog Walkers
- Pet Sitters
- Dog Daycare
- Kennel Attendants
- Veterinarian Assistants
- Groomers
- Pet Rescue Workers
- Animal Control Officers
- Pet Hotel, Dog Daycare & Kennel Managers/Owners
How are you different from other “dog trainers?”
Although we will occasionally touch upon obedience training and other “dog trainer” type of things, you have me as a Dog expert and consultant. I ONLY work with open minded pet lovers, who are open to seeing the world in a completely new perspective. In other words, I don’t work with people who are focused on agility or other advanced obedience training, and I’m not a run-of-the mill trainer. I refer those clients to other trainers. What that means to you is that I am very focused on anything and everything that works for the pet-lover who ‘wants’ to see the world through their dog’s or cat’s eyes. Because my focus is relatively narrow, what you get with me is no-nonsense, undiluted expertise on what works for making lasting changes in pets’ health and behaviour. I’ve simply become an expert in this area, and that’s why my clients, classes and students get great results (and I throw in a healthy dose of compassion, quirky humor and encouragement, which ALWAYS helps!).What type of personality do you work best with and what is expected of me?
DogGuru workshops, products and programs were created for people who are absolutely excited and deadly serious about creating understanding and lasting change, and ending the “can I really do this” script. No more banging your head against the wall saying, “perhaps I don’t have what it takes!?!” They were created for you to put systems in place within a few months (sometimes weeks!), which will lead you to all the success you desire with your own pets and for your clients’ pets. Knowledge is power and you will fast-track yourself for getting where you want to be — quickly –not in a year or two, or many more years, which is a conservative estimate on the traditional time it takes for people to obtain this level of information through trial and error. Consider what you’ll do with me to be an action learning course. You will be expected to take serious and consistent action. No excuses anymore, just a very different way of thinking and full support while you achieve this incredibly exciting goal: well-adjusted dogs, who are healthier, happier, not to mention the happier human counterparts. Harmony is the key word.For what type of person is this training NOT going to work?
Please know I’m very selective in who I work with and I do sometimes choose to (gently) turn away people who aren’t suited for my programs and won’t get the results for which they would have signed up for. (It wouldn’t be fair to them.) The DogGuru programs are NOT for those who don’t have the understanding that knowledge is power, and that in order to improve in any area in life, you must invest in yourself, both time and money. It’s been my experience that people who don’t truly get the value in education, thus not being open to new ideas, do not trust the recommendations I give them and do not do the work (probably because they spend so much time worrying and complaining about their own situation.) If you fall within this category, it’s absolutely OK. We’ve all been in times of crisis at one point or another. Do yourself (3) favors:- Create a pros/cons list. Divide a sheet of paper into two columns and write pros on one side and cons on the other side. Now start to write out all the thoughts that come to mind when you consider investing in education for yourself in order to improve yourself as a pet owner or pet professional. For example… a pro might be the possibility of new solutions being presented. A con might be that the solutions may not work for your situation.
- After you are done, go over your list and mark each item with a heart or an ‘X’… a heart is based in love. These are the hopes, dreams and good feelings. An ‘X’ is based in fear… basically the ‘what ifs’.
- Then consider if you can completely ‘cross off’ any of your ‘X’ items… knowing that fear is usually not based in reality. Fear is usually based on the unknown future, or a perceived negative outcome. Are there any loving thoughts that you can use to calm your fears to bring it back to reality.
What exactly is offered by the DogGuru and what do these programs include?
Creating a new understanding of how dogs see the world, and how you can communicate effectively to get the behaviour you want. Becoming knowledgeable in this is the foundation of all harmonious dog-human relationships, and will also become the foundation for a successful pet care business, should you desire, by allowing you to show up as a true professional. DogGuru offers two different systems depending on whether you are simply a pet-lover or also wish to have training as a pet care professional. The Dog Manners System: The first stage in the Dog Manners System is through our live Seminar and/or soon to be released book entitled: “My Dog Just Won’t Listen to Me™: Creating Lasting Changes in Your Relationship with you and your Dog” This is the foundation learning that is necessary to truly get the DogGuru principles of living harmonious lives with our dogs. It consists of 3 principles:- Exercise – We examine the importance of, types and requirements, as well as the symptoms and implications of an imbalance. Together we consider the specifics that apply to your specific dogs based on a number of important factors.
- Food – We explore the specific needs of dogs, from a scientific perspective, and where we often fail as caregivers to provide what is needed for them to not just survive, but to thrive, both health-wise and in their behaviour. A strong emphasis is placed on holistic feeding and we will discuss choosing the very best from commercial or home-made food options.
- Communication – This section is the most involved and FULL of ‘light-bulb moments’. You will quickly discover where the communication break-down has been happening with your dogs and learn how to quickly make small but powerful adjustments in the way you communicate. You will see that there is simply no ‘going back’ once it becomes crystal clear what was going wrong previously, and you have an increased confidence in yourself as a dog handler and an understanding of how to make lasting changes in your relationship with your dog!
Following this first stage, those that wish to continue on to the more hands-on ‘coaching’ type of instruction will graduate to the Dog Manners System of training classes, either live, in person or soon to be released, virtually through the “DogGuru Dog Manners Home Study System™. Here’s what the system gets you to do:
- Get you dog to pay attention when you call their name
- Create it such that you dog ‘wants’ to do what you want them to do
- Make it so that they follow your instructions quickly and concisely
- Teach or reinforce some basic obedience commands that are necessities to having a well-behaved dog (including some just plain convenient ones, like eliminating on command)
- Create a system of success when it comes to impulse control (distractions/ADD-type behaviour;-)
- Eliminate any jumping-up behaviours & learn how to properly meet people and other dogs
- Establish a reliable, concrete recall (‘come’ command)
- Learn to walk your dog, not have them walk you! (Loose-leash walking)
- See the benefits (and fun) in teaching tricks. It’s not as hard as you think!
The Certified Pet Care Professional System:
If you are interested in working with pets, or perhaps are looking to continue your education, then this system is for you.
The first stage in the Certified Pet Care Professional System, is through our two certification courses, Pet First Aid and Pet Care 101. These can be taken in person, or virtually, through our soon to be released DogGuru Certified Pet Care Professional™ Home Study Program.
Pet First Aid offers a solid, experience-based course for both dog and cat owners and Pet Care Professionals. This Veterinarian-approved Certificate Course was developed with the goal of bringing a more ‘reality-based’ approach to Pet First Aid. Through my experience with thousands and thousands of pets, over the past two decades, I saw the need for a course that addressed the real side of what people face every day with their pets. This Pet First Aid course, is now a leader in the world of educating Professionals about how to care for their clients pets, and in giving pet parents ‘peace-of-mind’ that they know what to do.
Pet Care 101
This course consists of a full day intensive, including comprehensive training to work in the Pet Care Industry. Basics and hands-on training for an exciting career as a Dog Daycare Attendant, Dog Walker, Pet Sitter, Kennel Attendant, Veterinarian Assistant, Dog Trainer Assistant, Animal Control Officer, Pet Rescue Worker.
Successful graduates have been hired into various positions – from Attendants to Managers, by local Pet Care Facilities to National Pet Hotels. Others have started their own Daycare/Boarding Centres or Dog Walking business, and still others have pursued careers as Trainers, Animal Control Officers, Veterinary Assistants, and Veterinarians.
You Will Learn:
- Dog Group Dynamics
- Dog-Human Body Language & Communication
- Basic Dog Training & Behaviour Modification
- Recognizing Health Issues
- Emergency Concerns & Medical Conditions
- Administration of Medication
- Procedures for Sanitization
- Proper Pet Handling
- Increase your confidence level
- Network and make connections
- Be inspired and motivated to get your business kick-started to success
- Get increased exposure for your business
- Be seen as a professional in the industry
- Learn more than you ever imagined…
- Know how to keep your pets healthy, recognize emergency situations, and be able to act
- How dogs see the world, and how we can get them to listen to us
- Understand dog behaviour, and modification (training) terminology & techniques
- How to prevent dog-dog fights, and also how to break them up safely, if necessary
- Practice handling and restraint techniques
- How to administer medication of all types (including sub-Q injections such as insulin)
- Vaccination protocols, including alternative (holistic) options
- In addition to these, you will learn dozens and dozens of things you never even knew you didn’t know!
…and best of all you will have a blast doing it! After all you’re in the pet industry so you can do something you enjoy… so why should the education and certification be any different!
Can I contact some of your former clients to see what it’s like to work with you?
Yes, I encourage you to! Please go to the Client Testimonials page and read all of them. See which ones you feel drawn to, either because the person has gotten the results you want to get too, or perhaps because that person is in a similar situation as you. Then feel free to email or call them and ask what they got from working with me and my programs.
Cheryl, based on everything I’ve read and heard about you, I know you’re the one I want to learn from. What are my options for getting started with you?
Congratulations on making a decision for success! I’m happy to work with you to achieve results…
To get started with making changes in your life with your pets and/or your pet care business, here are the different programs and products I’ve created for you:
- For Pet Owners, we highly recommend that you start with the Dog Manners Classes. These classes contain absolutely ALL the basics to help you make quick and effective changes in your dog’s behaviour. If you’ve ever complained that your dog just won’t listen, or have problems behaviours that you wish you could make ‘disappear’… then this is a Must-Do and will show you step-by-step exactly what to start doing—and stop doing—in your relationship with your dog. www.DogManners.ca
- With your enrollment in the DogGuru Dog Manners program, you will receive 2 calls with me each month, to help pin-point and solve problems in between our monthly meet ups. This program pays off BIG, especially at such an affordable rate.
- For Pet Professionals, we offer The Certified Pet Care Professional System™. Each stand-alone course offers you a full 7 hours of intensive learning, resources and support to leapfrog your pet care business to the next level. You will spend the day in a roomful of other amazing pet enthusiasts who are excited solopreneurs like yourself. www.PetFirstAidCourse.com and Pet Care 101
- Additionally, I invite those who want exclusive and personal coaching with me to book an Individual Consultation or Mentorship session. We meet in person or over the phone or Skype, to get you through your toughest questions easily. You are encouraged to have your spouse and other family members present for these Individual Consultations or your business partner or key employee for these Mentorship sessions. This allows us to create the most results BY FAR, as you have me to work directly with you and everyone involved, on YOUR issues and create a plan for success.
- High-achieving go-getters who want to move extraordinarily fast in building their Pet Care Business can also contact me to apply for the DogGuru Pet Care Internship Program – Specialty & Practicals in Dog Daycare and Dog Walking/Pet Sitting. If accepted, we’ll spend a whole day in-person learning and practicing what it takes to work with dogs and other pets. You’ll create a new level of understanding and the PRACTICAL experience to have your pet business off to a great start. In essence, we immerse you IN the business. I pull the curtain aside and let you see EXACTLY how I run my own business so you can model my systems and do the same thing yourself. To hear more details and send it your application for my review (I don’t select everyone, so I cherry pick my clients. Email my team for an application.)